Police use stun gun to subdue Seaford man in heroin bust

A state trooper tasered a Seaford man accused of dealing heroin Thursday, after the man reportedly attempted to run away from a pat-down search.

By Scott Goss

A state trooper tasered a Seaford man accused of dealing heroin Thursday, after the man reportedly attempted to run away from a pat-down search.

The incident began just before 6 p.m. when 26-year-old Ryan E. West’s westbound Pontiac Bonneville crossed the center line on Concord Road, east of Seaford, nearly striking a trooper’s eastbound patrol vehicle, according to Delaware State Police spokesman Cpl. Gary Fournier.

The trooper made a U-turn and stopped West’s car on Haven Drive.

West reportedly began behaving erratically while trying to locate paperwork for the vehicle, prompting the trooper to order him out of the car.

West appeared to be hiding something in his pockets and immediately fled on foot when the trooper attempted to conduct a pat-down search, Fournier said.

West, who kept his hands in his pockets, fell down a short distance away, at which point the trooper attempted to subdue him with a stun gun, Fournier said.

West reportedly continue to resist until being taken into custody.

He later was found to be in possession of 22 bags of heroin, totaling 0.55 grams, and more than $1,180 in suspected drug proceeds, Fournier said.

West is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, resisting arrest, driving under the influence of drugs, driving on a suspended or revoked license, no proof of insurance or registration, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to maintain lane.

He is being held at the Sussex Correctional Center in Georgetown on a $8,150 second bond.